Hi.
I sometimes struggle to communicate.I may not make eye contact.I may make sudden movements.I am overwhelmed easily by loud noises, flashing lights, or other intense sensory input.If I am scared or overwhelmed, I may seem aggressive.I feel all you feel in certain situations, I have a hard time coping.
From parents:
“She’s not shy, she’s having a hard time with her emotions and making eye contact makes her more anxious. Give her time and space to process. She will smile and talk to you.”“He really wants to play with you and enjoys your company but sometimes his mind has other ideas. Give him time to collect himself, he’ll be back to play”“If you talk passively vs. directly, they will be able to process better and feel comfortable sooner.”
Autistic people sometimes:
Swing, flap our hands, rock, repeat certain phrases, pace, tippy toe, self harm, itch, tap.Need time to process information, like questions or instructions.Shut down when overwhelmed.
PEOPLE, NOT PUZZLES
Representation
The autism community has argued that the recognition of autism by a puzzle piece can infantilize autistic adults. After all, there is a need for understanding and acceptance. The infinity symbol has become more popular in recent years as it is more positive and empowering. The possibilities are endless and and so is the hope for acceptance.For years, males have been more likely to receive a diagnosis and in turn receive the tools needed to function on society. The color blue has been used to represent autism, but as more is learned about the topic, more girls are being diagnosed and receiving the help they need and deserve. “Members of neurodiverse community are calling for a shift in thinking, asking allies to wear red to support autism acceptance and advocacy rather than just increased awareness.”
Why a rainbow?
Autism Awareness Bracelets
Our family has been learning about autism daily as we encounter challenges with our autistic daughter. As she struggles to cope in certain situations, we realized we also struggle to find the words or the opportune time to explain that our daughter isn’t “shy” or being a “brat”. We see all the good intentions of people wanting to connect and be social, but being afraid of the stigmas that come with the autism label.Advocating is difficult and also not the easiest way to spark an interaction with anyone, but advocating is what our child and all neurodiverse kids and adults need.April is Autism Awareness Month and we figured a fun way to connect with our community would be a bracelet that represents the colors and symbol of neurodiversity. To start we will be passing out 300 bracelets with information on neurodiversity to help our community understand how wide of a spectrum it is. While we are funding this, we ask for a “pay it forward” approach. If this message has reached you, we ask that you share a bracelet with your friends and family.This one free bracelet can be paid forward 5X with a $1 contribution. Every $1 helps us make 5 bracelets for you to share. Completely non-profit but a great way to help us spread the message and help our community become more inclusive to every member.
